“Combo!”, recorded in 1960, was designed by composer, arranger and conductor Henry Mancini to recognize the contribution of the small band or combo to the musical scene. It is not a “salute” in the usual sense, however, as Mancini made no effort to copy or duplicate the sounds and arrangements of the great combos. Instead, he preferred to use the combo as a vehicle for presenting his own distinctive approach to music for small groups. The sounds on the album are fresh and creative. The music, written and improvised, has a clean, imaginative quality. Mancini assembled some of the top musicians around at the time and provided them with a superbly tasteful framework on which to display their talents: trumpeter Pete Candoli, trombonist Dick Nash, Ted Nash on alto and flute, Art Pepper on clarinet), baritonist Ronnie Lang, pianist Johnny Williams (also on harpsichord), guitarist Bob Bain, bassist Rolly Bundock, drummer Shelly Manne, Ramón Rivera on conga, and Larry Bunker on vibes and marimba. One of the more distinctive sounds in the album is the use of the harpsichord in both a a rhythm and solo capacity. Although this wasn’t the first time the instrument had been used in jazz, the recorded quality and the manner in which it was presented provided a fresh and appealing sound. The sheer texture of the instrument seems to fit perfectly into Mancini’s musical concept.